Northstar Vale The Ants Go Marching One By One

75F°, currently it is clear and set during the day. Located in Northstar Vale, dens | ooc notes: puppy thread!! | tagging: @Haruki, @Hotaru, @Sumi

The children were growing up so fast, their strength was only growing each day and already it was time for them to start wandering around the dens and investigating their home, their lands, their packmates and eventually the other children they would come across and hopefully play with. For now, today the new-mother would take them on a walk. Make sure you hold tails so we don't lose each other. She calls out to them lovingly, turning to look over her shoulder and make sure they were all indeed holding each other by the tail. Whoever was on her own tail would be easy to make sure they were following, the others, well, she relied on each of them to notify her when they dropped off to stop.

This wouldn't be the first time they did the puppy train, this would be their first so far from their den, however. Through Reiko's garden that she tended with Hiromi to keep the herbs fresh and a wonderful scent when the more decorative flowers bloomed. The butterflies were wonderful little companions, the Empress wondered if the children were interested in the bugs already as a curiosity. They would walk past the garden this time, to the edge of the denning site, and here the children would play and see beyond what they normally would. How big the world truly was.

The sky was clear with some clouds floating by in the distance, the sun was warm but not too hot. It was the perfect day to take them out to play before the final countdown to Takeshi's end would come. She was certain Collision's plan would commence soon, all she wanted was some time with the children first before anything further began should things turn sour.

She was surprised when her mother didn't immediately offer her tail to the youngest girl. Being the adventurous and mischievous youngling that she was, Sumi had a tendency to wander of when not held close under foot. But she wasn't one to look a gift horse in the mouth and so she made sure she was at the veeerrRRRRRRYYYYyyyyy end of the puppy train. Just in case you know... anything interesting came a long. It would be easier to escape from the back.

As the youngest, and the smallest of the bunch, Sumi was sometimes hard pressed to keep up with her mothers long strides. Not that she minded. She had already learned if her mother thought she had left Sumi behind she was apologetic... where as if Reiko thought her daughter had left herself she was angry. So if her mother out paced her the girl didn't mind, it gave her time to get lost.

Despite her itchy feet, Sumi was more interested in her where her mother was taking them! This was new, they had never been so far. And the little girl was extremely excited. So she remained at the back of the line, with her sibling's tail gently held between her teeth.

Today their mother had decided to take them somewhere new and supposedly further than Hotaru and her siblings had been before. How true that was, she wasn't quite sure given that even she had wandered off a few times on her own and surly Sumi more than she. When Reiko asked for them to take each other's tails, she was almost certain Sumi would rush to be first, but surprisingly she would be the last to join the train.

Not really favoring first place, Hotaru would allow Haruki to take the lead, latching on to his tail carefully as Sumi grabbed her own. This way even if Sumi fell behind or ran off she could ensure her sister stayed close by or have their mom bring her back, but once more to her surprise the youngest seemed to be well behaved today. Strange, but no complaints from her. It meant she could trot along silently to whatever their mom wanted to show them.

Where the other two favoured the back of the puppy train, Haruki was more than happy to be first in line - he was, after all, the firstborn here. Like Hotaru, he was wondering why the boisterous Sumi didn't jump at the chance to be first, but didn't think too much of it, gleefully taking up the position right at the head of the train. Well, mother was the head, but that didn't stop him from thinking he was helping lead them on whatever adventure they went on today.

It wasn't the first time they had done this, but it was an extra special trip this time because mother was taking them somewhere new. Somewhere even Sumi hadn't seen (that they knew of, at least)! That alone was exciting, and try as he might to be patient, Haruki couldn't help but dance from paw to paw, the tail between his sister's teeth wiggling about eagerly. "'EADY!" he loudly announced, voice muffled by Reiko's fluffy tail.

The train was ready to leave the station!

It was amusing, one by one they took tails and without them realizing they had all taken the order in which they were born in. Haruki first, Hotaru second, and Sumi last. She took a moment to look them over, reminiscing already and trying to log this precious little memory away into her mind for forever, never to forget their precious little faces all holding tails - even if Sumi was obviously plotting on slipping away the moment she thought it was clear to do so and go on her own little adventure. 

Not yet. Some day little Sumi would understand and forgive how strict her mother was being while they were still so small, one day she would be able to see anything she wanted and all Reiko could do was hope she would be safe and be a home she could return to. Born to run. Haruki was more so a mommy's boy, ready to please, to get that praise and be the good boy he thought his mother wanted to be - at least from what Reiko could see from his actions. Born to lead. Finally, Hotaru, the softest and sweetest of the bunch. Among all three, she would be a star, born not only to sing but to be heard and loved, she was certain the girl would grow to be a shinning woman one day.

All three so different and yet so lovely all the same, each unique among themselves. 

Snapping out of her love-filled daze, she shook her head and looked back toward their path as Haruki, with her tail between his teeth called out "'EADY!" Ready indeed! They were eager to see the world beyond the invisible boundaries their mother had placed and couldn't wait any longer!

Weaving through the grasses in the most scenic route she could take, showing them all the little paths and different things they might not have seen yet. Flowers, certain bugs maybe if they can get close enough before it flies away. Smells too she could pick out during their walk of a rabbit walking by. All the while she hummed an upbeat tune, gently singing loud enough for all to hear in the near vicinity. 

The ants go marching one by one, hurrah, hurray!~ In a silly little dance, she marched forward, swaying with every step and throwing her legs out front as if leading the little puppy march.